Top Ten Things Not To Do While Doing Your Taxes

March 24, 2025March 23, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 83 Comments

This post was originally published on February 17, 2014 by Marie Bailey and me. Since this year’s income tax deadline is fast approaching, I thought it would be good to review.

10. While doing your taxes, do not allow the cat to sit on your keyboard. If you do, at best, you may miss a couple of deductions. At worst, your kitty may just add a few zeroes to your tax bill.

9. While doing your taxes, do not have a hot drink sitting on some of your worksheets. If you do, at best, you could tip it over and ruin a few papers. At worst, you could tip it into your lap and jeopardize your love life till you heal.

8. While doing your taxes, do not allow your dog to play with the computer cord. If you do, at best, you may run out of battery. At worst you may need to run out to the vet to help Fido overcome his electro shock treatment

7. While doing your taxes, do not allow the family to play video games on your computer between sessions. If you do, at best, some memory may disappear. At worst, the IRS may get a Madden football game instead of your 1040.

6. While doing your taxes, do not leave your computer without saving your file. If you do, at best, you might have to remember all your half-truths all over again. At worst, you may be unable to reconstruct your perfect return and might end up owing more than you had planned.

5. While doing your taxes, do not think the IRS is okay with rough guesses or estimates of the numbers. If you do, at best, you will never hear from the IRS. At worst, you will have to explain your numbers during an audit to a disbelieving agent with a cattle prod.

4. While doing your taxes, do not forget to sign your return even if you don’t believe it to be true. If you do, At best, the return will bounce back. At worst, the lack of signature will trigger a visit from NSA who will want to know all about you.

3. While doing your taxes, do not try to get away without attaching a check if you owe money. If you do, at best, the government will send you a nasty note. At worst, you will find out how little a sense of humor the IRS really has as the gavel falls on the final auction of your house.

2. While doing your taxes, do not drink alcohol even if you think it will help. If you do, at best, you might be shocked by the amount you deducted. At worst, you may be shocked to find you have already mailed the return on which you took too many deductions.

1. While doing your taxes, do not be discouraged enough to decide not to file. If you do at best, you will never sleep again. At worst, you may get all your living expenses paid, but may have a roommate who wants to go steady.

Views of the Neighborhood – The First Signs of Spring

March 23, 2025March 22, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 90 Comments

Today we are going out and about to see if we can find signs of spring. We are catered by Eddie V’s of Austin. Our entertainment is Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole.

Chilean Sea Bass – Steamed Hong Kong Style with Light Soy Broth

Georges Bank Scallops – Seared with Citrus Fruit, Roasted Almonds, and Brown Butter

Norwegian Salmon – Mustard and Rye Whiskey Glazed with Baby Carrots and Spinach

Parmesan Sole – Parmesan Crusted with Heirloom Tomato Salad and Lemon-Garlic Butter Sauce

Jumbo Gulf Shrimp – Crab-Stuffed with herbs and garlic, Lemon Beurre Blanc

South African Lobster – Two Tails Broiled, Drawn Butter

Filet Medallions Oscar Style- Jumbo Lump Crab, Asparagus, Béarnaise

10 oz Center Cut Filet Mignon and 5oz Roasted South African Lobster Beurre Blanc

Served with your choice

Butter Poached Lobster Mashed Potatoes, Petrossian Royal Caviar Double Baked Potato

Harissa Roasted Carrots with Citrus Yogurt, Honey Sriracha Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cashews, Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Truffled Macaroni and Cheese, Au Gratin Cheddar Potatoes, Crab Fried Rice, Mushrooms, Scallions, Grilled Asparagus Sea Salt, Lemon.

Let’s go.

We start off with a redbud.

Some cross vine in bloom.

Calibrachoa are colorful

Another redbud

A lonely bluebonnet

More bluebonnets.

Carolina jasmine

Flowering cherry.

The final redbud.

Some wild verbina

Lovely periwinkle

The mountain laurel

That is the tour. It is time to relax, have some food, and enjoy the music.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt –

March 22, 2025March 22, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 52 Comments

The coffee machine detects the reality of being away for a while. She asks about the nature of my coffee drinking for the past week. Hemming and hawing did not forestall the answer long. The confession of drinking coffee brewed elsewhere brings a silent rebuke from the machine. “I hope you have a doctor visit on your calendar soon,” is the message scrolling across the touch screen.

Confirming the appointment date breaks loose a cup of the heavenly brew. On the first sip, the clock comes to mind. The setting is for March 21, 1925, and the location is the state of Tennessee. The duration is one hour, and the plunger is pulled.

We arrive in Dayton, Tennessee, which will be the location of the famous Scopes trial in July 1925. For now, though, we arrive just as the Butler Act takes effect.

In the U.S. state of Tennessee, the Butler Act, prohibiting school teachers from denying the Biblical account of man’s origin, took effect as it was signed by Governor Austin Peay. The Act provided that “it shall be unlawful for any teacher in any of the Universities, Normals and all other public schools of the State which are supported in whole or in part by the public school funds of the State, to teach any theory that denies the Story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals,” had been passed by the state House of Representatives, 71 to 5 and by the Tennessee Senate, 24 to 6. The Act would remain on the books until its appeal on May 17, 1967. Maybe we’ll get back for the trial after John Scopes is indicted for teaching evolution, but the alarm goes off, and we fall flat on the couch.

There is a text from Linda Hill. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “calendar.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post.Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2025/03/21/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-march-22-2025/

“I love how you sneaked calendar into the early p[art of your story.”

“I wanted to get it out of the way.”

“Well, you did that for sure. What made you pick that destination?”

“I have always been fascinated by the idea of passing a law forbidding the teaching of science. The fact that fundamental extremists could influence a state legislature to do so has amazed me since school.”

“So the fundamentalists only wanted the bible version of creation taught?”

” Well, they didn’t want evolution taught. The law didn’t say anything about the bible version.”

“I can’t believe anyone was prosecuted under such a law.”

“High school teacher John Scopes was.”

“Yeah. Did he go to jail?”

“No, he was found guilty and fined $100 by the judge, but that was set aside by a higher court ruling that judges cannot assess a fine above $50. That has to be done by the jury.

“I hope someone doesn’t decide Voo Doo Ranger needs to be outlawed.”

“So if they did.”

“Hello, hoosegow.”

“You call Uber?”

“Right over there.”

“Look at that a Camero. At last, a ride in which we can be proud to be seen.”

“We can be proud to be seen. There’s only one problem.”

“What’s that?”

“No engine.”

“What?”

“The guy rebuilt the car and ran out of money.”

“So, how are we supposed to get to the pub.”

“Push.”

“Push?”

“Yup. As you know, the pub is in the valley, so well, just push the car till it gets rolling, hop in, and coast to the pub.”

“Sounds more like a you job than a me job. I’m getting in.”

“Maybe we should call a cab.”

“Up to you. I’m comfortable.”

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News

March 21, 2025March 20, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 74 Comments

Today’s good news is from the Good News Network.

Rare Sighting of Four Snow Leopards Together Sparks Frenzy of Excitement – (WATCH)

Andy Corbley –Mar 20, 2025

In the remote mountains of northern Pakistan, four majestic snow leopards have been recorded recently moving through the snow-covered hills in a piece of footage that has ignited a flurry of excitement among conservationists.

These animals are seldom seen alone, much less in a group, and it’s being considered a sign of success for Pakistan’s conservation efforts in the animal’s habitat.

“For the past 15 days, I had been noticing leopard pawmarks. While I was on the roof of my house, I used binoculars to observe the mountains and spotted a female snow leopard along with her four cubs,” the photographer Sakhawat Ali told GNN.

“As a wildlife lover, I was extremely happy to see the snow leopards. I quickly moved closer and filmed them from a distance of about 150 meters.”

Ali lives in the remote village of Hushe and is also a gamekeeper at the Central Karakorum National Park in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region, where the sighting was made. Snow leopards thrive here; their coats allow them to blend into the snowy mountains and remain undetected by their prey species.

That a female could have three large and healthy cubs is a sign that as much as the snow leopard population is doing well, prey populations of Siberian ibex, argali, roe deer, and Thorvold’s deer must also be thriving.

Still, the snow leopard is considered vulnerable by the IUCN Red List because of its susceptibility to habitat loss and fragmentation across the mountain ranges in which it lives.

Pakistan, and indeed all 12 of the snow leopard range countries, have made great strides in halting and reversing snow leopard declines over the last twenty years. CNN reported that local villagers celebrated Ali’s footage, even though snow leopards sometimes kill livestock.

Dr. Zakir Hussain, the Chief Conservator of Parks and Wildlife for Gilgit-Baltistan, told CNN that 80% of the region’s communities are engaged in the tracking, monitoring, and reporting snow leopard populations on a citizen science basis.

The snow leopard can be found in Russia, China, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan, which together make up the Global Snow Leopard Forum, an international platform for coordinating and sharing conservation strategies to protect this borderless wanderer between state wildlife and environment ministries and NGOs like the Snow Leopard Trust.

WATCH them move across a snowy landscape…

The good news here is that conservation efforts are showing results. Today’s JohnKu talks about conservation. I hope you have a super weekend.

Saving animals,

Is a step to save ourselves . . .

We all should do it.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Tempeste Are Glad to Be Back

March 20, 2025March 19, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 153 Comments

“Tempest. We need to get back to work.”

“Aw, Twiggy. I’m still wanting to nap.”

“I know, but our time off has ended.”

“Just five more minutes with my cookie.”

“If I have to sit on your cookie, we must get going.”

“I guess that is a major thing for sure.”

“Mom is at the store, so we need to get active by the time she gets home.”

“By active, do you mean get ready for the greeting when she returns?”

“Exactly. You know the routine.”

“Yup. Wag the behind, and try not to jump up. Get all wiggly. Throw the tongue out.”

“You got it. Boy, I forgot how high the couch is.”

“You jump from there, and Mama will have a heart attack.”

“Okay, we’ll wait for the garage door to open.”

“Maybe we should wait on the floor.”

“You know. You surprise me sometimes with your logic.”

“Well, it just makes sense. Also, Mom won’t pass out thinking you will jump.”

“It looks like you are growing up for sure. Okay, let’s go to the floor.”

“Right behind you.”

“We can’t see the car or garage door from here.”

“That’s okay. We still have our supersonic hearing.”

“I hear something right now.”

“It’s gotta be Mom. She’s been gone ten days.”

“She’s been gone twenty minutes, not ten days.”

“Just seems like it is all.”

“Okay, I heard the door. She’s coming.”

“I’m ready.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – “Cash”

March 11, 2025March 10, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 59 Comments

I randomly opened Detour on the Eternal Road to page 175. With eyes closed, A finger pointed to the page, causing my finger to fall close to the word”cash.” That will be the prompt. As a reminder I will be offline March 12th through the 19th. Tempeste and Twiggy return on March 20.

“Will that be cash or charge?”

“Um, what’s the final total?”

“One thousand two hundred ninety eight dollars and ninety eight cents.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m sorry. Did you not hear me?”

“No I heard you fine. I’m taken aback by the number.”

“Is this your first visit?”

“Why yes. Yes, it is.”

“No wonder. Many of our first-time clients aren’t aware of our billing procedures.”

“I guess I’m guilty then.”

“I see on the orders you came in for an annual check-up.”

“Well my dog is here for an annual check-up.”

“Yes sir. If we don’t find anything, those check-ups are priced at one hundred twenty-five.”

“So what did you find?”

“According to the notes, your dog, Bowzer. That’s his name right?”

“Yes, that’s Bowzer’s name.”

“Cute name. Where was I? Oh yes, according to the notes, Bowzer needed all his shots.”

“I thought he would.”

“That series was four hundred and twenty-five dollars.”

“What about the rest?”

“Claw trims fifty dollars.”

“Uh huh.”

“Shampoo and cut two hundred and fifty.”

“Is there more?”

“Yes.”

“Lab testing one hundred twenty five, flea treatment one hundred twenty five, consultant fee seventy three dollars.”

“For a total of what?”

“One thousand two hundred ninety eight dollars. That leaves ninety-eight cents.”

“What is that for?”

“Reading the bill. Again cash or charge?”

“I don’t have that kind of cash. I guess charge.”

“There is a four percent fee for charge.”

“Of course there is.”

Top Ten Things Not To Do at a Little League Game

March 10, 2025March 9, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 61 Comments

Since spring is almost here and baseball will be starting soon, I thought it would be a good idea to go back to 2013 and revisit a post co-written by Marie Bailey and me. For those of you in little league, this may be useful. Hopefully, there will be a few laughs for the rest of us. I announced yesterday that I will be off-line from March 12 to the 19th. Tempeste and Twiggy will be back on March 20th.

* * *

Top Ten Things Not To Do at a Little League Game

10. When at a little league game, do not assume that your brief foray into sports during high school makes you an expert in the game your child is in. If you do at best, your advice will fall on deaf ears. At worst, that big assistant coach with the ball bat is heading your way.

9. When at a little league game, do not call out penalties as if you were the referee. If you do at best, everyone will ignore you. At worst, the crowd of child worshiping parents from the other team have plans to meet you after the game.

8. When at a little league game, do not think you can place bets on the outcomes. If you do at best, all the action will be low-key. At worst, parents of the kids you bet against will find out and toss you out of the game and split your winnings.

7. When at a little league game, do not show up wearing your uniform from high school. If you do at best, you won’t rip open your pants the first time you sit down on a bench. At worst, your kids will fumble a play from sheer embarrassment, and you’ll have to find your own way home.

6. When at a little league game, do not show up toting your own keg of beer. If you do at best, everyone will think you are a hero. At worst, the county liquor control board has seized your beer and provided you with a drafty place to spend the night.

5. When at a little league game, do not prowl the sidelines and try to make eye contact with your kid. If you do at best, your kid will be too busy playing the game and ignore you. At worst, you’ll not be warned that the ball just tossed is headed straight for a spot that will hurt.

4. When at a little league game, do not spend the whole time pretending to be videotaping the game on your smartphone when you are checking your email, the latest stock reports and weather updates. If you do at best, you can continue uninterrupted. At worst, several parents ask if they can have a copy of your video, and in the moment, with no excuse, you drop your phone into a water bucket.

3. When at a little league game, do not offer to take all the kids out for ice cream. If you do at best, they will all be lactose intolerant and forbidden to go. At worst, they all take you up on your offer and find that you forgot your wallet after ordering.

2. When at a little league game, do not attempt to join the cheerleaders at any point during the game. If you do at best, someone will stop you. At worst you’ll wind up dislocating your hips, and your kids will never speak to you again.

1. When at a little league game, do not shower insults on kids from the opposing team. If you do at best, the crowd noise will drown you out. At worst, when their parents come to silence you, no one will stand in their way because yelling at kids is just wrong.

Views of the Neighborhood – Lakeway City Hall Art Show

March 9, 2025March 8, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 81 Comments

After last week’s disaster, I’m happy to report that this week’s trip to the Lakeway City Hall Art show will be a success. The lights and art cooperated. We are catered by Stella San Jac of Austin. Our entertainment is Don McLean.

Before we go, I want you to know that I will be traveling and on a break from Wednesday March 12th until Wednesday March 19th. I will be off-line for the whole week. Tempeste and Twiggy will be back on the 20th.

All American – Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Crispy Hash Brown, Sourdough Toast

Chorizo & Potato Tacos – Eggs, White Cheddar, Crème Fresca, Roasted Salsa

Grapefruit Curd Parfait t- House Made Granola, Greek Yogurt, Texas Berries

Vegetarian – Pecan Praline French Toast Bourbon Maple Syrup, Vanilla Whipped Cream

Steel Cut Oats – Sorghum, Texas Pecans, Dried Fruit

Chicken & Waffle – Bourbon Maple Syrup, Country Gravy, Fried Herbs

Steak & Eggs – Flat Iron, Pickled Onion, Chimichurri, Crispy Hash, Over Easy Eggs

Short Rib Grilled Cheese – Hawaiian Roll, Smoked Cheddar, Caramelized Onion, Jus, Fries

Shrimp & Grits – Blackened Shrimp, Cheddar Corn Grits, Creole Sausage Gravy

Fried Avocado Salad – Charred Corn, Candied Jalapeño, Queso Fresco, Cholula Ranch

Everyone get on the bus

Here is a little about the artist, Andy Hempel

Falls on the Pedernales – Oil on canvas

Hill Country Spring – Oil on canvas

Texas Ranch Life – Oil on canvas

Texas in Bloom – Oil on canvas

Man O War – Oil on canvas

Fall on the Frio – Oil on canvas

Heavenly Day – Oil on canvas

I hope you enjoyed the show and will relax with food and music. Here’s wishing you a terrific week.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Watch

March 8, 2025March 7, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 77 Comments

The coffee machine leaves a message to watch the time after pressing my order. The 10 oz coffee order is pressed and the cup is filled in ten seconds. A message comes back that the machine will try for a new record tomorrow. With a shoulder shrug and a sip, the clock is the next item of concern. The setting is for Chicago on March 8th, 1925. The duration is an hour. The plunger is pulled and we find ourselves at the Chicago Department of Public Health.

Dr. Herman N. Bundesen, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health announced in an article in the Department’s weekly bulletin that the ongoing crossword puzzle fad caused no ill health effects from headaches or eye strain, as had previously been feared, and was beneficial to health in general. The Commissioner reads from the bulletin to the employees gathered in the cafeteria. In a feature titled “Cross-Worditis”, Bundesen humorously noted, “The savage little cross-word microbe may be largely explained by the fact that part of our lives and much energy must be put into amusement, to satisfy the play instinct within us. Therefore, any game with a mental ‘kick’ in it is quickly accepted and eagerly pursued. A collective sigh went up from the crowd, and all continued drinking coffee and working on their crossword puzzles.

The alarm goes off and we end up on the couch. A text has come in from Linda Hill. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “open book, close eyes, point, write.” When you’re ready to sit down and write your SoCS post, open the closest printed matter, close your eyes, point to a word, and use it as your prompt. Use it any way you’d like. Have fun! Following directions, I open and point at a page of GQ Magazine. My finger lands on the word “watch” in a Cartier Timepiece Advertisement.

To see what others have written visit Linda’s blog. Here is the link: https://lindaghill.com/2025/03/07/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-march-8-2025/

“That was an interesting trip. Can’t imagine folks getting concerned about crossword puzzles.”

“Well you know how some feel anything enjoyable must be bad for you.”

“Lucky you had that GQ magazine near.”

“I had been reading it before starting to write the post.”

“You still read that mag.”

“I must admit the editorial mission of GQ has moved beyond me.”

“How so?”

“Take the watch as an example. I have an Apple watch that does everything, including calling the authorities if I fall down and can’t get up.”

“Okay but there are other things.”

“Yeah like shoes that cost a thousand bucks, not to mention grill work for my front teeth.”

“Grill work?”

“A lot of the features are with guys who have a lot of gold and silver teeth.”

“That can’t be true.”

“Besides, I think the age demographic is more around my grandkids’ age.”

“I could see you hanging out with a gold grill, Cartier watch, neck chains, and Louboutin shoes.”

“Yeah right. Try wrangler jeans, t-shirt, and bare feet.”

“Not a pretty picture, old man. Why do you get the mag anyway?”

“I think staying current is understanding what is current and not necessarily joining in.”

“Speaking of current.”

“Did you order an Uber?”

“Right over there.”

“Hold on. We all have to sit upfront.”

“Unless you want to sit in the bed.”

“That door looks strange.”

“It does. It is off a GMC Denali.”

“Gotta admit the guy is resourceful.”

“He gave us a break on the fare.”

“What’s the catch?”

“We have to help him deliver some mulch.”

“Not so bad.”

“Good let’s go. Oh by the way.”

“What?”

“It’s really manure.”

“Figures. Those Rangers are going to go down easy after this.”

“My thought exactly. Also, we might need hip boots.”

A Lovely Review of Eternal Road- The final stop by Esther Chilton

March 7, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 24 Comments

Book Review – Eternal Road: The Final Stop

Esther has given Eternal Road – The Ffnal stop a wonderful review on her post today. I am very grateful to her since the book isn’t in her normal reading type but she enjoyed it enough to write her review. Thanks so much, Esther. I hope you guys hop over there and check out her blog. It is a very interesting place. Thank you again. Esther.